Following up on its recent notification urging activists to inform them before filing Right To Information (RTI) against various departments, Nagaland Zeliang People’s Organisation has clarified that the notice was a plea and not an order.
Admitting that Right to information is a fundamental right, NZPO president Kevipele Iheilung said the October 4, 2023 appeal was made with the intention of curbing habitual RTI activists who exploited the process for monetary gains, rather than its intended purpose. He highlighted concerns about certain individuals and groups who, in the recent past, had engaged in filing RTIs solely for financial benefits. He made it clear that the primary objective was to address the menace of wrongful use of RTI, maintaining that the NZPO had no intention of regulating or controlling who could file an RTI application.
Iheilung acknowledged that several RTIs were filed against various departments even after the appeal was issued. He claimed that the appeal was aimed to combat corruption if noticed during such inquiries. Pointing out the formation of a group of individuals filing RTIs consecutively against specific departments, he said that there were instances where these actions resulted in the departments being coerced into paying money to the activists, thereby raising concerns about the misuse of the RTI system.
The NZPO president stressed that the organisation was not trying to impede genuine RTI requests and urged activists to continue using their right responsibly, while reiterating that the appeal was a proactive measure to curb the exploitation of the system.
He further stated that complaints of harassment had been lodged with the NZPO by those facing the brunt of habitual RTI activists.
He reiterated the NZPO’s commitment to preserving the integrity of RTI process, acknowledging the importance of facilitating genuine requests for information.